Lens driving device and camera module comprising same

ABSTRACT

A lens driving device according to an embodiment comprises: a bobbin wherein at least one lens is installed inside thereof and a first coil is installed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a first magnet arranged around the bobbin so as to be opposite to the first coil; a housing for supporting the first magnet; upper and lower elastic members coupled with the bobbin and the housing; a first sensor for sensing displacement of the bobbin in the first direction; a second magnet arranged so as to be opposite to the first sensor; a base arranged to be spaced apart from the housing by a certain distance; a second coil arranged so as to be opposite to the first magnet; a circuit board whereon the second coil is installed; a plurality of support members for supporting the housing so as to be movable in the second and third directions which are orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the base and for connecting at least one of the upper and lower elastic members to the circuit board; and a second sensor for sensing displacement of the housing in the second or third direction with respect to the base.

CROSS REFERENCE PARAGRAPH

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/109,590, filed on Jul. 1, 2016, which is the National Phase of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/KR2014/013066, filed on Dec. 30, 2014,which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to Patent Application No.10-2014-0000122, filed in Republic of Korea on Jan. 2, 2014 and10-2014-0089198, filed in Republic of Korea on Jul. 15, 2014, all ofwhich are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the presentapplication.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to a lens driving apparatus and a camera moduleincluding the same.

BACKGROUND ART

As various portable terminals become widely used and wireless internetservice is commercialized, consumer demand for portable terminals arealso diversified. In order to satisfy such demand, various kinds ofadditional devices are mounted on portable terminals.

Among the additional devices, the representative device for taking animage or video of an object, storing the image data and editing andtransmitting the data at a desired time is a camera module.

In recent years, demand for a compact camera module for use in variousmultimedia fields, including those of personal computers, camera phones,PDAs, smart phones, toys and the like and for use in image input devicesof information terminals, monitoring cameras and video tape recordershas increased.

It is difficult to adopt voice coil motor (VCM) technology, which istypically used in conventional camera modules, for use in anultracompact camera module, which aims at achieving low powerconsumption, and thus research into the technology has been activelyundertaken.

A camera module mounted in a small-sized electronic product, such as asmart phone, may be frequently subjected to shocks during use. Inaddition, the camera module may minutely shake due to the trembling ofthe user's hand while taking a photograph. Therefore, there is a highnecessity for a technology capable of incorporating a handshakecorrection unit into the camera module.

Various handshake correction technologies have been recently researched.Among such handshake correction technologies, there is a technology ofcorrecting handshake by moving an optical module in the x-axis andy-axis directions, which define a plane perpendicular to the opticalaxis. Since the technology is configured such that the optical system ismoved and adjusted in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis forimage correction, it is complicated and is unsuitable forminiaturization.

Furthermore, there is a demand for accurate and rapid focusing in theoptical module.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a lens driving apparatus, which includes a sensorcapable of accurately detecting displacement of a bobbin at low cost andwhich is able to implement power saving, miniaturization and improvementof reliability, and a camera module including the same.

Technical Solution

A lens driving apparatus according to an embodiment includes a bobbinaccommodating at least one lens therein, a first coil being disposed atan outer circumferential surface thereof, a first magnet disposed nearthe bobbin so as to face the first coil, a housing for supporting thefirst magnet, upper and lower elastic members each coupled both to thebobbin and to the housing, a first sensor for detecting displacement ofthe bobbin in a first direction, a second magnet disposed to face thefirst sensor, a base disposed so as to be spaced apart from the housingby a predetermined distance, a second coil disposed so as to face thefirst magnet, a circuit board on which the second coil is mounted, aplurality of support members for supporting the housing such that thehousing is movable with respect to the base in second and thirddirections, which are perpendicular to the first direction, the supportmembers connecting at least one of the upper or lower elastic member tothe circuit board, and a second sensor for detecting displacement of thehousing with respect to the base in the second and third directions.

The upper elastic member may include at least four first to fourth upperelastic members, which are separated from one another, and the firstsensor may be connected to the plurality of support members via thefirst to fourth upper elastic members.

Each of the first to fourth upper elastic members may include a firstinner frame coupled to the bobbin, a first of first outer frame coupledto the housing and connected to the support member, and a first frameconnector connecting the first inner frame to the first of first outerframe.

The lower elastic member may include at least two first and second lowerelastic members, which are separated from each other, and the first coilmay be connected to the plurality of support members via the first andsecond lower elastic members.

Each of the first and second lower elastic members may include at leastone second inner frame coupled to the bobbin, at least one second outerframe coupled to the housing, and a first of second frame connectorconnecting the at least one second inner frame to the at least onesecond outer frame.

The at least one second outer frame may include a plurality of secondouter frames, and each of the first and second lower elastic members mayfurther include a second of second frame connector connecting theplurality of second outer frames.

The at least four upper elastic members may further include fifth andsixth upper elastic members, which are separated from each other, andeach of the fifth and sixth upper elastic members may include a secondof first outer frame, which is formed in a direction perpendicular tothe first direction and which is coupled to the housing and connected tothe support members.

First, each of the first and second lower elastic members may furtherinclude a bent portion, which is bent at the second of second frameconnector toward the upper elastic member in the first direction. Eachof the fifth and sixth upper elastic members may further include aconnecting frame connecting the bent portion to the second of firstouter frame.

Alternatively, each of the fifth and sixth elastic members may furtherinclude a connecting frame, which is bent at the second of first outerframe and extends to the second of second frame connector in the firstdirection. The bent portion, the connecting frame, and the second offirst outer frame may be integrally formed with one another.

Alternatively, each of the first and second lower elastic members mayfurther include a bent portion, which is bent at the second of secondframe connector and extends to the second of first outer frame in thefirst direction.

Alternatively, the lens driving apparatus may further include a metalpiece, which is inserted into or attached to the housing, and the secondof first outer frame and the third of second frame connector may beconnected to each other via the metal piece.

Each of the first and second lower elastic members may further include acoil frame connected to the associated one of two ends of the firstcoil, and a third of second frame connector connecting the coil frame tothe at least one second inner frame.

The first sensor may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin andmoved therewith. The lens driving apparatus may further include a sensorsubstrate coupled to the bobbin, and the first sensor may be configuredto have a shape capable of being disposed, coupled or mounted on thesensor substrate. The first sensor may be disposed, coupled or mountedon an upper side, a lower side, or a center of an outer circumferentialsurface of the sensor substrate. The sensor substrate may have amounting recess formed in an outer circumferential thereof, and thefirst sensor may be fitted into the mounting recess.

The sensor substrate may include a body configured to face an outercircumferential surface of the bobbin, the first sensor being disposed,coupled, or mounted on the body, an elastic member contact protrudingfrom the body in the first direction, and a circuit pattern formed atthe body so as to connect a terminal of the first sensor to the elasticmember contact. The elastic member contact may be connected to the firstto fourth upper elastic members.

The first and second magnets may be formed separately from each other.

The first and second magnets may be integrally formed with each other.The first sensor and the first magnet may be disposed to face each othersuch that an imaginary center horizontal line, which extends through acenter of the first sensor and is perpendicular to an optical axis, isaligned with an upper end of the first magnet. The bobbin may be movedupward and downward in an optical axis direction with respect to areference point at which the imaginary center horizontal line coincideswith the upper end of the first magnet.

The shapes and the number of the plurality of support members may beconfigured so as to realize symmetry in the second and third directions.

Alternatively, the lower elastic member may include at least four firstto fourth lower elastic members, which are separated from one another,and the first sensor may be connected to the plurality of supportmembers via the first to fourth lower elastic members.

Each of the first to fourth lower elastic members may include a firstinner frame coupled to the bobbin, a first of first outer frame coupledto the housing and connected to the support members, and a first frameconnector connecting the first inner frame to the first of first outerframe.

The upper elastic member may include two first and second upper elasticmembers, which are separated from each other, and the first coil may beconnected to the plurality of support members via the first and secondupper elastic members.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may include at leastone second inner frame coupled to the bobbin, at least one second outerframe coupled to the housing, and a first of second frame connectorconnecting the at least one second inner frame to the at least onesecond outer frame.

The at least one second outer frame may include a plurality of outerframes, and each of the first and second upper elastic members mayfurther include a second of second frame connector connecting theplurality of second outer frames.

The at least four lower elastic members may further include fifth andsixth lower elastic members, which are separated from each other, andeach of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members may include a secondof first outer frame, which is formed in a direction perpendicular tothe first direction, and which is coupled to the housing and isconnected to the support members.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may further include abent portion, which is bent at the second of second frame connectortoward the lower elastic member in the first direction. Each of thefifth and sixth lower elastic members may further include a connectingframe connecting the bent portion to the second of first outer frame.The bent portion, the connecting frame, and the second of first outerframe may be integrally formed with one another.

Alternatively, each of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members mayfurther include a connecting frame, which is bent at the second of firstouter frame and extends to the second of second frame connector in thefirst direction.

Alternatively, each of the first and second upper elastic members mayfurther include a bent portion, which is bent at the second of secondframe connector and extends to the second of first outer frame in thefirst direction.

Alternatively, the lens driving apparatus may further include a metalpiece, which is inserted into or attached to the housing, and the secondof first outer frame and the third of second frame connector may beconnected to each other via the metal piece.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may further include acoil frame connected to an associated one of two ends of the first coil,and a third of second frame connector connecting the coil frame to theat least one second inner frame.

A lens driving apparatus according to another embodiment includes amover including a bobbin for holding a lens unit and a coil disposed onan outer surface of the bobbin, a stator for supporting the mover, afirst sensor disposed on the outer surface of the bobbin so as to detectmovement of the bobbin, and an elastic member including a first elasticpart and a second elastic member, the first elastic part being connectedat respective ends thereof to first sides of the bobbin and the statorso as to allow power to be applied to the coil, and a second elasticpart being connected at respective ends thereof to second sides of thebobbin and the stator so as to be conductively connected to the firstsensor.

The first elastic part may be disposed at an upper side of the bobbin,and the second elastic part may be disposed at a lower side of thebobbin. Alternatively, the first elastic part may be disposed at a lowerside of the bobbin, and the second elastic part may be disposed at anupper side of the bobbin.

Each of the first and second elastic parts may include an outer portioncoupled to the mover, an inner portion coupled to the bobbin, and aconnecting portion connecting the outer portion to the inner portion andproviding elastic force.

The first elastic part may be constituted by a first spring and a secondspring, which are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other.

Each of the first and second springs may include a terminal, which isbent at the outer portion thereof and is soldered to the substrate.

The first spring and the second spring may be constituted by leafsprings, which are configured to be symmetrical with each other.

The second elastic part may be constituted by at least two leaf springsso as to match the number of terminals of the first sensor.

At least one of the first or second elastic part may be configured tohave a shape that is symmetrical in a direction perpendicular to adirection in which the mover is moved.

The stator may include a magnet unit disposed at a positioncorresponding to the coil, a housing for holding the magnet unit, and abase for supporting the mover and the housing.

A camera module according to a further embodiment includes the lensdriving apparatus, and an image sensor. For example, the camera modulemay include a mover including a bobbin for holding a lens unit and acoil disposed on an outer surface of the bobbin, a stator for supportingthe mover, a first sensor disposed on the outer surface of the bobbin soas to detect movement of the bobbin, an elastic member including a firstelastic part and a second elastic member, the first elastic part beingconnected at respective ends thereof to first sides of the bobbin andthe stator so as to allow power to be applied to the coil, and a secondelastic part being connected at respective ends thereof to second sidesof the bobbin and the stator so as to be conductively connected to thefirst sensor, a substrate conductively connected to the elastic member,an image sensor provided at the substrate, and a cover can accommodatingthe mover and the stator and defining the appearance of the cameramodule.

The second elastic part may be constituted by at least two leaf springsso as to match the number of terminals of the first sensor.

The first elastic part may include two leaf springs, which are first andsecond springs spaced apart from each other.

Advantageous Effects

The lens driving apparatus and a camera module including the sameaccording to the embodiments are able to accurately sense displacementof a bobbin without causing tilting of the bobbin even though a sensorfor sensing displacement of the bobbin is used, and are able to preventan increase in the number of parts and to reduce the weight of thehousing so as to improve responsiveness. Furthermore, the lens drivingapparatus and a camera module including the same enable the realizationof miniaturization, weight savings and low power consumption by directlydisposing the first sensor on the bobbin, compared to a conventionaltechnology in which a magnet is disposed on a bobbin, and are able toimprove reliability by using the elastic member as a conductiveconnection member of the terminals of the first sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a lens driving apparatusaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the lens drivingapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lens driving apparatus accordingto the embodiment, from which a cover member, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2, is removed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lens driving apparatusaccording to the embodiment, which shows the bobbin, the first coil, themagnet, the first sensor and the sensor substrate;

FIG. 5a is a plan view showing the bobbin and the magnet shown in FIG.4, FIG. 5b is a perspective view showing another embodiment of thesensor substrate shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5c is a rear perspective viewshowing one embodiment of the first sensor and the sensor substrateshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the housing according to theembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the housing and themagnet according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the accuracy of the first sensoraccording to the optimal position of the first sensor;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the bobbin, the housing, the upperelastic member, the first sensor, the sensor substrate and a pluralityof support members, all of which are coupled to one another;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the bobbin, the housing, thelower elastic member and the plurality of support members, all of whichare coupled to one another;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view according to the embodiment of the upperelastic member, the lower elastic member, the first sensor, the sensorsubstrate, the base, the support member and the circuit board, all ofwhich are coupled to one another;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the base, the second coil andthe circuit board;

FIG. 14 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a lens drivingapparatus according to another embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a first elastic unit according to theembodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second elastic unit according to theembodiment.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings to aid in understanding of theembodiments. However, the embodiments may be altered in various ways,and the scope of the embodiments should not be construed as beinglimited to the following description. The embodiments are intended toprovide those skilled in the art with more complete explanation.

In the following description of the embodiments, it will be understoodthat, when each element is referred to as being formed “on” or “under”the other element, it can be directly “on” or “under” the other element,or can be indirectly formed with one or more intervening elementstherebetween. In addition, it will also be understood that “on” or“under” the element may mean an upward direction and a downwarddirection based on the element.

In addition, the relative terms “first”, “second”, “top/upper/above”,“bottom/lower/under” and the like in the description and in the claimsmay be used to distinguish between any one substance or element andother substances or elements and not necessarily for describing anyphysical or logical relationship between the substances or elements or aparticular order.

In the drawings, the dimensions of layers may be exaggerated, omitted orillustrated schematically for clarity and convenience of description. Inaddition, the dimensions of constituent elements do not preciselyreflect the actual dimensions.

Hereinafter, a lens driving apparatus 100 or 400 according to anembodiment will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. For the convenience of description, although the lens drivingapparatus 100 or 400 according to the embodiment is described using aCartesian coordinates system (x, y, z), the lens driving apparatus 100or 400 may be described using some other coordinate systems, and theembodiment is not limited thereto. In the respective drawings, thex-axis and the y-axis mean directions perpendicular to an optical axis,i.e. the z-axis, and the optical axis (Z-axis) direction may be referredto as a “first direction”, the x-axis direction may be referred to as a“second direction”, and the y-axis direction may be referred to as a“third direction”.

An Embodiment

A handshake correction apparatus, which is applied to compact cameramodules of mobile devices such as smart phones or tablet PCs, may meanan apparatus configured to prevent the contour of an image captured whentaking a still image from not being clearly formed due to vibrationscaused by the trembling of the user's hand.

In addition, an autofocusing apparatus is configured to automaticallyfocus the subject image on the surface of an image sensor. The handshakecorrection apparatus and the autofocusing apparatus may be configured invarious manners. The lens driving apparatus 100 according to theembodiments may perform the handshake correction and/or autofocusingoperations in such a manner as to move an optical module, composed of atleast one lens, in a first direction parallel to the optical axis and/orin a plane defined by the second and third directions, which areperpendicular to the first direction.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a lens driving apparatus100 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective viewof the lens driving apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lens driving apparatus 100 according tothe embodiment may include a first lens driving unit, a second lensdriving unit, and a cover member 300.

The first lens driving unit may serve as the above-mentionedautofocusing apparatus. In other words, the first lens driving unit mayserve to move a bobbin 110 in the first direction by virtue of theinteraction between a magnet 130 and a first coil 120.

The second lens driving unit may serve as the handshake correctionapparatus. In other words, the second lens driving unit may serve tomove all or a portion of the first lens driving unit in the second andthird directions by virtue of the interaction between the magnet 130 andthe second coil 230.

The cover member 300 may be configured to have an approximate box shapeso as to accommodate the first and second lens driving units therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lens driving apparatusaccording to the embodiment, from which the cover member 300 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 is removed.

The first lens driving unit may include the bobbin 110, the first coil120, the magnet 130, a housing 140, an upper elastic member 150, a lowerelastic member 160, a first sensor 170 and a sensor substrate 180.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lens driving apparatusaccording to the embodiment, which shows the bobbin 110, the first coil120, the magnet 130 (130-1, 130-2, 130-3 and 130-4), the first sensor170 and the sensor substrate 180.

FIG. 5a is a plan view showing the bobbin 110 and the magnet 130 (130-1,130-2, 130-3 and 130-4) shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5b is a perspective viewshowing another embodiment of the sensor substrate 180 shown in FIG. 4.FIG. 5c is a rear perspective view showing one embodiment of the firstsensor 170 and the sensor substrate 180 shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the above-mentioned drawings, the bobbin 110 may bedisposed in the internal space defined in the housing 140 so as toreciprocate in the first direction, which is the optical axis direction,or in a direction parallel to the first direction. As shown in FIG. 4,the bobbin 110 may be provided therearound with the first coil 120 suchthat the first coil 120 and the magnet 130 interact with each other inan electromagnetic manner. To this end, the magnet 130 may be disposedaround the bobbin 110 so as to face the first coil 120.

When the bobbin 110 performs the upward and/or downward movement in thefirst direction, which is the optical axis direction, or in a directionparallel to the first direction to fulfill the autofocusing function,the bobbin 110 may be elastically supported by means of the upper andlower elastic members 150 and 160. To this end, the upper and lowerelastic members 150 and 160 may be coupled to the bobbin 110 and thehousing 140, as will be described later.

Although not shown in the drawings, the lens driving apparatus mayinclude a lens barrel (not shown), which is provided on the inner sidesurface (i.e. the inner surface) of the bobbin 110 and on which at leastone lens is mounted. The lens barrel may be mounted on the inner surfaceof the bobbin 110 in various ways. For example, the lens barrel may bedirectly secured to the interior of the bobbin 110, or a single lens maybe integrally formed with the bobbin 110 without using the lens barrel.The lens mounted on the lens barrel may include a single lens, or mayinclude two or more lenses, which constitute an optical system.

According to another embodiment, although not shown in the drawings, thebobbin 110 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface thereofwith a female threaded portion while the lens barrel may be provided onthe outer circumferential surface thereof with a male threaded portioncorresponding to the female threaded portion such that the lens barrelis coupled to the bobbin 110 by virtue of threaded engagement betweenthe female and male threaded portions. However, the embodiments are notlimited thereto. According to a further embodiment, the bobbin 110 andthe lens barrel may be coupled to each other using an adhesive withoutusing the threaded engagement. In this case, after the threadedengagement, the bobbin 110 and the lens barrel may also be reliablycoupled to each other using an adhesive.

The bobbin 110 may include first and second protrusions 111 and 112.

The first protrusion 111 may include a guide portion 111 a and a firststopper 111 b. The guide portion 111 a may serve to guide theinstallation of the upper elastic member 150 at a predeterminedposition. For example, the guide portion 111 a may guide the passage ofa first frame connector 153 of the upper elastic member 150, as shown inFIG. 3. To this end, depending on the embodiment, a plurality of guideportions 111 a may protrude in the second and third directions, whichare perpendicular to the first direction. The guide portions 111 a maybe provided in a plane defined by the x axis and the y axis so as to besymmetrical about the center point of the bobbin 110, as shown in thedrawings, or may be provided so as to be asymmetrical about the centerpoint of the bobbin 110 so as not to interfere with other components,unlike the embodiment shown in the drawings.

The second protrusion 112 may protrude in the second and thirddirections, which are perpendicular to the first direction. The uppersurfaces 112 a of the second protrusions 112 may be configured such thata first inner frame 151 of the upper elastic member 150, which will bedescribed later, is mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the housing 140 according to theembodiment. FIG. 7 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the housing140 and the magnet 130 according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the housing 140 may include first mounting recesses146, which are formed at positions corresponding to those of the firstand second protrusions 111 and 112.

When the bobbin 110 moves in the first direction, which is the opticalaxis direction, or in a direction parallel to the first direction forthe autofocusing function, the first stoppers 111 b of the firstprotrusions 111 and the second protrusions 112 serve to prevent thebottom surface of the body of the bobbin 110 from directly collidingwith the upper surfaces of a base 210 and a circuit board 250 even whenthe bobbin 110 moves beyond a predetermined range due to an externalimpact or the like. To this end, the first stoppers 111 b may protrudefrom the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 110 in a radialdirection, that is, in the second or third direction, so as to be longerthan the guide portions 111 a, and the second protrusions 112 may alsoprotrude in the lateral direction so as to be larger than the uppersurfaces thereof, on which the upper elastic member 150 is mounted.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the state in which the bottom surfaces of thefirst and second protrusions 111 and 112 are in contact with the bottomsurfaces 146 a of the first mounting recesses 146 is set be the initialposition, the autofocusing function may be controlled as in theunidirectional control of a conventional voice coil motor (VCM).Specifically, the autofocusing function may be fulfilled in a mannersuch that the bobbin 110 is raised when current is supplied to the firstcoil 120 and is lowered when the supply of current is interrupted.

However, when the state in which the bottom surfaces of the first andsecond protrusions 111 and 112 are spaced apart from the bottom surfaces146 a of the first mounting recesses 146 by a predetermined distance isset to be the initial position, the autofocusing function may becontrolled in accordance with the direction of current, as in thebidirectional control of a conventional voice coil motor. Specifically,the autofocusing function may be fulfilled by moving the bobbin 110 inupward or downward direction parallel to the optical axis. For example,the bobbin 110 may be moved upward upon the application of forwardcurrent and may be moved downward upon the application of reversecurrent.

The housing 140 may include third protrusions 148, which have the convexshape at positions corresponding to spaces each having a first width W1,which are defined between the first and second protrusions 111 and 112.The surfaces of the third protrusions 148 that face the bobbin 110 mayhave the same shape as the side surface of the bobbin 110. At thispoint, the first width W1 between the first and second protrusions 111and 112, shown in FIG. 4, and the second width W2 between the thirdprotrusions 148, shown in FIG. 6, may be set to have a predeterminedtolerance therebetween. Accordingly, the rotation of the thirdprotrusions 148 between the first and second protrusions 111 and 112 maybe restricted. As a result, even if the bobbin 110 is subjected to aforce tending to rotate the bobbin 110 about the optical axis ratherthan a force tending to move the bobbin 110 in the optical axisdirection, it is possible to prevent the rotation of the bobbin 110 bymeans of the third protrusions 148.

According to the embodiment, the first sensor 170 may be disposed,coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110, and may thus be moved togetherwith the bobbin 110. The first sensor 170 may detect (or, sense)displacement of the bobbin 110 in the first direction, which is theoptical axis direction or in a direction parallel to the firstdirection, and may output the result of the detection as a feedbacksignal. By using the result of the detection, which is obtained bydetecting displacement of the bobbin 110 in the first direction or in adirection parallel to the first direction using the feedback signal, thedisplacement of the bobbin 110 in the first direction or a directionparallel to the first direction may be adjusted.

The first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin110 or the housing 140 in various manners, and may receive current invarious fashions depending on the manner in which the first sensor 170is disposed, coupled or mounted.

According to one embodiment, the first sensor 170 may be coupled to thehousing 140, and an additional sensor magnet (not shown), which facesthe first sensor 170, may be disposed on the bobbin 110. The firstsensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on side surfaces orcorners of the first mounting recess 146 of the housing 140 shown inFIG. 6 (for example, the surface of the third protrusion 148). In thiscase, by the magnetic force which is exerted on the magnet 130 from theadditional sensor magnet, the bobbin 110, which is moved in the firstdirection, that is, the optical axis direction, or a direction parallelto the first direction, may be tilted, and the accuracy of the feedbacksignal may be deteriorated. In consideration of this, another additionalsensor magnet may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110 at aposition at which the interaction between the first additional sensormagnet and the magnet 130 is minimized.

According to another embodiment, the first sensor 170 may be directlydisposed, coupled or mounted on the outer circumferential surface of thebobbin 110. In this case, surface electrodes (not shown) may be providedon the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 110, and the firstsensor 170 may receive current through the surface electrodes.

According to a still further embodiment, the first sensor 170 may beindirectly disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110, as shown inthe drawings. For example, the first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupledor mounted on the sensor substrate 180, and the sensor substrate 180 maybe coupled to the bobbin 110. In other words, the first sensor 170 maybe indirectly disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110 through thesensor substrate 180.

When the first sensor 170 is directly or indirectly disposed on thebobbin 110, as in the further and still further embodiments, the sensormagnet may be disposed independently from the magnet 130, and the magnet130 may be used as the sensor magnet.

Hereinafter, although the case in which the first sensor 170 isindirectly disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110 through thesensor substrate 180 and in which the magnet 130 is used as the sensormagnet will be described, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 a, the bobbin 110 may be provided in theouter side surface thereof with a support groove 114, and the sensorsubstrate 180 may be fitted into the support groove 114 so as to becoupled to the bobbin 110. Although the sensor substrate 180 may have,for example, a ring shape, as shown in the drawings, the embodiments arenot limited as to the shape of the sensor substrate 180. The supportgroove 114 may be defined between the outer circumferential surface ofthe bobbin 110 and the first and second protrusions 111 and 112. At thispoint, the first sensor 170 may have a shape capable of being disposed,coupled or mounted on the sensor substrate 180. As shown in FIGS. 4 and5 b, the first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on, forexample, an upper area A1, an intermediate area A2 and a lower area A3of the outer circumferential surface of the sensor substrate 180 invarious manners. The first sensor 170 may receive current from theoutside through the circuit of the sensor substrate 180. For example, amounting hole 183 may be formed in the outer circumferential surface ofthe sensor substrate 180, and the first sensor 170 may be disposed,coupled or mounted in the mounting hole 183, as shown in FIG. 5b . Atleast one surface of the mounting hole 183 may be configured to have aninclined surface tapered (not shown) so as to allow more efficientinjection of epoxy or the like for assembly of the first sensor 170.Although additional epoxy or the like may not be injected into themounting hole 183, the epoxy or the like may be injected so as toincrease the disposition stability, coupling force and/or mounting forceof the first sensor 170.

Alternatively, the first sensor 170 may be attached to and supported bythe outer front surface of the sensor substrate 180 by means of anadhesive, such as epoxy or double-sided adhesive tape, as shown in FIG.4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the first sensor 170 may be disposed,coupled or mounted on the center of the sensor substrate 180.

The bobbin 110 may have a reception recess 116, which is suitable forreceiving the first sensor 170, which is disposed, coupled or mounted onthe sensor substrate 180. The reception recess 116 may be formed in aspace between the first and second protrusions 111 and 112.

The sensor substrate 180 may include a body 182, elastic member contacts184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4, and circuit patterns L1, L2, L3, and L4.

When the support groove 114, which is defined between the outercircumferential surface of the bobbin 110 and the first and secondprotrusions 111 and 112, has the same shape as the outer circumferentialsurface of the bobbin 110, the body 182 of the sensor substrate 180 mayhave a shape capable of being inserted to be securely fitted into thesupport groove 114. Although the support groove 114 and the body 182 mayhave a circular plane view shape, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5a , theembodiments are not limited thereto. According to another embodiment,the support groove 114 and the body 182 may have a polygonal plane viewshape.

The body 812 of the sensor substrate 180 may include a first segment, onthe outer circumferential surface of which the first sensor 170 isdisposed, coupled or mounted, and a second segment, which contacts thefirst segment and extends therefrom. Although the sensor substrate 180may have an opening 181 in a region facing the first segment so as to beeasily fitted into the support groove 114, the embodiments are notlimited to a sensor substrate 180 having any specific shape.

The elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4 may protrudefrom the body 182 in a direction which allows the elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4 to contact the first frame 151,for example, in the first direction, that is, the optical axisdirection, or in a direction parallel to the first direction. Theelastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4 are the portionsthat are connected to the first inner frame 151 of the upper elasticmember 150, which will be described later.

The circuit patterns L1, L2, L3, and L4 may be formed on the body 182,and may conductively connect the first sensor 170 and the elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4. For example, the first sensor170 may be embodied as a Hall sensor, but may alternatively be embodiedas any kind of sensor as long as it is able to detect variation inmagnetic force.

If the first sensor 170 is embodied as a Hall sensor, the Hall sensor170 may have a plurality of pins. For example, the plurality of pins mayinclude a first pin and a second pin. Referring to FIG. 5c , the firstpin may include, for example, a first of first pin P11 and a second offirst pin P12, which are respectively connected to the voltage and toground, and the second pin may include a first of second pin P21 and asecond of second pin P22, which output the result of the detection. Atthis point, although the result of the detection, that is, the feedbacksignal which is output through the first of second pin P21 and thesecond of second pin P22, may be of a current type, the embodiments arenot limited as to the kind of feedback signal.

The first of first, second of first, first of second and second ofsecond pins P11, P12, P21, and P22 of the first sensor 170 may beconductively connected to the elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2,184-3, and 184-4 through the circuit patterns L1, L2, L3, and L4,respectively. Referring to FIG. 5c , the first of first, second offirst, first of second, and second of second pins P11, P12, P21, and P22may be connected to the fourth, third, second, and first elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-3, 184-2, and 184-1 through the circuit patterns,that is, the first, second, third, and fourth lines L1, L2, L3, and L4,respectively. According to one embodiment, the first, second, third, andfourth lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 may be constructed so as to be visibleto the naked eye. According to another embodiment, the first, second,third, and fourth lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 may be formed in the body 182so as to be invisible to the naked eye.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first sensor 170 may be disposed to face themagnet 130 such that the imaginary center horizontal line 172, whichextends through the center of the first sensor 170 in the optical axisdirection and which is formed in the direction perpendicular to theoptical axis, is aligned with the upper end 131 of the magnet 130.

At this point, although the bobbin 110 may be moved upward and downwardin the optical axis direction, that is, in the first direction or in adirection parallel to the first direction with respect to the referencepoint at which the imaginary center horizontal line 172 coincides withthe upper end 131 of the first magnet 130, the embodiments are notlimited thereto.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the accuracy of the first sensor 170according to the optimal position of the first sensor 170, in which thehorizontal axis represents the position of the first sensor 170 and thevertical axis represents the accuracy of the first sensor 170.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be appreciated that the accuracy ofdetection by the first sensor 170 is maximized when the imaginary centerhorizontal line 172 coincides with the upper end 131 of the magnet 130.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the bobbin 110, the housing 140,the upper elastic member 150, the first sensor 170, the sensor substrate180 and a plurality of support members 220, all of which are coupled toone another.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the bobbin 110, the housing 140,the lower elastic member 160, and the plurality of support members 220,all of which are coupled to one another.

The first coil 120 may be wound around the outer circumferential surfaceof the bobbin 110 by a worker or a machine, and then both ends, that is,the starting line and the ending line of the first coil 120, may berespectively wound around a pair of winding protrusions 119 protrudingfrom the bottom surface of the bobbin 110 in the first direction, andmay be secured thereto. At this time, the position of the ending line ofthe first coil 120, which is wound around the winding protrusion 119,may vary depending on the worker. As illustrated in FIG. 11, althoughthe pair of winding protrusions 119 may be disposed at positions thatare symmetrical about the center of the bobbin 110, the embodiments arenot limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first coil 120 may be fitted and coupledin a coil groove 118, which is formed in the outer surface of the bobbin110. As illustrated in FIG. 2, although the first coil 120 may beembodied as an angled coil block having a ring shape, the embodimentsare not limited thereto. According to another embodiment, the first coil120 may be directly wound around the outer circumferential surface ofthe bobbin 110, or may be wound through a coil ring (not shown). Thecoil ring may be coupled to the bobbin 110 in the same manner as themanner in which the sensor substrate 180 is inserted and fixed in thesupport groove 114, and the first coil 120 may be wound around the coilring rather than being wound or disposed around the outer surface of thebobbin 110. In any case, the starting line and the ending line of thefirst coil 120 may be respectively wound around the winding protrusions119 and secured thereto, and the other constructions may be the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first coil 120 may be configured to have anapproximately octagonal shape. The first coil 120 has a shapecorresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 110having an octagonal shape, as illustrated in FIG. 5a . At least four ofthe surfaces of the first coil 120 may be configured to be linear, andthe corner surfaces connecting the four surfaces may also be configuredto be linear. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto, and thesurfaces may be configured to be rounded.

The linear surfaces of the first coil 120 may be configured tocorrespond to the magnets 130. The surfaces of the magnets 130, whichcorrespond to the surfaces of the first coil 120, may have the sameradius of curvature as the surfaces of the first coil 120. Specifically,the surfaces of the magnets 130 corresponding to the surfaces of thefirst coil 120 may be linear when the surfaces of the first coil 120 arelinear, whereas the surfaces of the magnets 130 corresponding to thesurfaces of the first coil 120 may be rounded when the surfaces of thefirst coil 120 are rounded. However, even if the surfaces of the firstcoil 120 are rounded, the surfaces of the magnets 130 corresponding tothe surfaces of the first coil 120 may be linear, and vice versa.

The first coil 120, which is intended to move the bobbin 110 in thefirst direction, which is parallel to the optical axis, or in adirection parallel to the first direction so as to fulfill theautofocusing function, may generate electromagnetic force through theinteraction with the magnets 130 upon the supply of current. Thegenerated electromagnetic force may move the bobbin 110 in the firstdirection or in a direction parallel to the first direction.

The first coil 120 may be configured to correspond to the magnets 130.In other words, if the magnets 130 are constructed to form a singlemagnet body and the entire inner surface of the magnet 130, which facesthe outer surface of the first coil 120, has the same polarity, theouter surface of the first coil 120, which corresponds to the innersurface of the magnet 130, may have the same polarity.

Alternatively, the magnet 130 may be divided into two or four magnetswith respect to the surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and thusthe inner surface of the magnet 130, which faces the outer surface ofthe first coil 120, may also be divided into two or four surfaces, inwhich case the first coil 120 may also be divided into a number of coilsthat corresponds to the number of magnets 130 resulting from thedivision.

The magnet 130 may be disposed at a position corresponding to that ofthe first coil 120. Referring to FIG. 8, the magnet 130 may be disposedto face the first coil 120 as well as the first sensor 170. This is thecase in which the magnet 130 is used as the magnet for the first sensor170 without providing an additional magnet for the first sensor 170, asin one embodiment.

In this case, the magnet 130 may be received to be supported in a firstside portion 141 of the housing 140, as shown in FIG. 7. The magnet 130may be configured to have an approximately cuboid shape corresponding tothat of the first side portion 141 of the housing 140, and the surfaceof the magnet 130 that faces the first coil 120 may be configured tohave a curvature corresponding to that of the corresponding surface ofthe first coil 120.

The magnets 130 may be constituted by a single magnet body. Referring toFIG. 5a , which shows the embodiment, the magnet 130 may be disposedsuch that the inner surface of the magnet 130, which faces the firstcoil 120, serves as an S pole 132, whereas the outer surface of themagnet 130 serves as an N pole 134. However, the embodiments are notlimited thereto, and the inverted disposition is also possible.

Two or more magnets 130 may be provided. According to the embodiment,four magnets 130 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 5a , the magnet 130may be configured to have an approximately rectangular shape when viewedin a plan view. Alternatively, the magnet 130 may be configured to havea triangular shape or a rhombus shape.

Although the surface of the magnet 130 that faces the first coil 120 maybe linear, the embodiments are not limited thereto. If the correspondingsurface of the first coil 120 is rounded, the magnet 130 may be roundedso as to have a curvature corresponding to that of the rounded surfaceof the first coil 120. By virtue of this configuration, it is possibleto maintain a constant distance between the magnet 130 and the firstcoil 120. In the embodiment, the magnets 130 may be disposed one at thefour first side portions 141 of the housing 140, respectively. However,the embodiments are not limited thereto. In some designs, only one ofthe surface of the magnet 130 and the surface of the first coil 120 maybe a flat surface, whereas the other surface may be a curved surface.Furthermore, the mating surfaces of both the first coil 120 and themagnet 130 may be curved surfaces. In this case, the mating surfaces ofthe first coil 120 and the magnet 130 may have the same curvature.

When the magnets 130 have a rectangular shape when viewed in a planview, as illustrated in FIG. 5a , a pair of magnets 130 among theplurality of magnets 130 may be oriented parallel to each other in thesecond direction, and the other pair of magnets 130 may be orientedparallel to each other in the third direction. By virtue of thisconfiguration, it is possible to control the movement of the housing 140for handshake correction explained later.

The housing 140 may have a polygonal shape when viewed in a plan view.Although the outer contour of the upper end of the housing 140 may havea square plan view, as shown in FIG. 6, which shows the embodiment, theinner contour of the lower end of the housing 140 may have an octagonalplane view, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, the housing 140 mayinclude a plurality of side portions, for example, four first sideportions 141 and four second side portions 142.

The first side portions 141 may be the portions on which the magnets 130are mounted, and the second side portions 142 may be the portions onwhich the support members 220 described later are disposed. The firstside portions 141 may connect the second side portions 142 to eachother, and may include flat surfaces having a predetermined depth.

Depending on the embodiment, the first side portions 141 may beconfigured to have a surface area equal to or larger than that of themagnets 130. Referring to FIG. 7, the magnets 130 may be held in magnetmounting portions 141 a, which are formed at lower portions of innersurfaces of the first side portions 141. The magnet mounting portions141 a may be embodied as recesses having a size corresponding to that ofthe magnets 130, and may be disposed so as to face at least threesurfaces, that is, opposite lateral side surfaces and the upper surfaceof the magnets 130. The magnet mounting portions 141 a may haveopenings, which are provided in the bottom surfaces thereof and whichface the second coil 230 explained later, such that the bottom surfacesof the magnets 130 directly face the second coil 230.

Although the magnets 130 may be secured to the magnet mounting portions141 a using an adhesive, an adhesive member such as a piece ofdouble-sided adhesive tape may alternatively be used without limitation.Alternatively, the magnet mounting portions 141 a may be embodied asmagnet mounting holes into which the magnets 130 are partially fitted orthrough which the magnets 130 are partially exposed, unlike the recessedstructure shown in FIG. 7.

The first side portions 141 may be disposed parallel to the sidesurfaces of the cover member 300. The first side portions 141 may beconfigured to have a larger area than the second side portions 142. Thesecond side portions 142 may define passages through which the supportmembers extend. Upper portions of the second side portions 142 mayinclude first through holes 147. The support members 220 may extendthrough the first through holes 147 and may be connected to the upperelastic member 150.

The housing 140 may further include second stoppers 144. The secondstoppers 144 may prevent the upper surface of the body of the housing140 from directly colliding with the inner surface of the cover member300 shown in FIG. 1.

The housing 140 may further include a plurality of first upper supportprotrusions 143 formed on the second side portions 142. The plurality offirst upper support protrusions 143 may have a hemispherical shape, asshown in the drawings, or may have a circular cylindrical shape or arectangular column shape. However, the embodiments are not limited as tothe shape of the first upper support protrusions 143.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing 140 may be provided with firstrecesses 142 a formed in the second side portions 142. The firstrecesses 142 a are provided so as to provide paths through which thesupport members 220 extend, as well as spaces to be filled with agel-type silicone which may play the role of damping. In other words,the first recesses 142 a may be filled with damping silicone.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view according to the embodiment of the upperelastic member 150, the lower elastic member 160, the first sensor 170,the sensor substrate 180, the base 210, the support members 220 and thecircuit board 250, all of which are coupled to one another.

According to the embodiment, the upper elastic member 150 may include atleast four upper elastic members 150, that is, first to fourth upperelastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4, which are conductivelyisolated from each other. The elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2,184-3, and 184-4, which are connected to the first sensor 170, may beconnected to the plurality of support members 220 through the first tofourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4.Specifically, the first upper elastic member 150-1, which is connectedto the elastic member contact 184-4, may be connected to a first supportmember 220-1, that is, first of first and second of first supportmembers 220-1 a and 220-1 b, and the second upper elastic member 150-2,which is connected to the elastic member contact 184-3, may be connectedto a second support member 220-2. Furthermore, the third upper elasticmember 150-3, which is connected to the elastic member contact 184-2,may be connected to a third support member 220-3, that is, first ofthird and second of third support members 220-3 a and 220-3 b, and thefourth upper elastic member 150-4, which is connected to the elasticmember contact 184-1, may be connected to a fourth support member 220-4.

Each element 150 a of the first and third upper elastic members 150-1and 150-3 may include the first inner frame 151, a first of first outerframe 152 a, and the first frame connector 153, and each element 150 bof the second and fourth upper elastic members 150-2 and 150-4 mayinclude the first inner frame 151, a first of first outer frame 152 b,and the first frame connector 153. The first inner frame 151 may becoupled to the bobbin 110 and to the associated elastic member contacts184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4. As shown in FIG. 4, when the uppersurface 112 a of the second protrusion 112 is flat, the first innerframe 151 may be placed on the upper surface 112 a and may be securedthereto by means of an adhesive member. According to another embodiment,when a support protrusion (not shown) is formed on the upper surface 112a, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the support protrusion may beinserted into a first of second through hole 151 a formed in the firstinner frame 151, and then may be secured thereto through thermal fusionor by means of an adhesive such as epoxy.

The first of first outer frames 152 a and 152 b may be coupled to thehousing 140 and may be connected to the support members 220. The firstframe connector 153 may connect the first inner frame 151 and the firstof first outer frame 152 a and 152 b. Although the first of first outerframe 152 b has a configuration in which the first of first outer frame152 a is divided into two segments, the embodiments are not limitedthereto. In other words, in another embodiment, the first of first outerframe 152 a may also be divided into two segments in the same manner asthe first of first outer frame 152 b.

The first frame connector 153 may be bent at least one time to define apredetermined pattern. The upward and/or downward movement of the bobbin110 in the first direction, which is parallel to the optical axis, maybe flexibly supported by positional change and fine deformation of thefirst frame connector 153.

The plurality of first upper support protrusions 143 of the housing 140may couple and secure the first of first outer frames 152 a and 152 b ofthe upper elastic member 150 to the housing 140, as illustrated in FIG.12. In this embodiment, the first of first outer frames 152 a and 152 bmay be provided with second of second through holes 157 at positionscorresponding to the first upper support protrusions 143 of the first offirst outer frames 152 a and 152 b, the second of second through holes152 having shape corresponding to the first upper support protrusions143. The upper support protrusions 143 and the second of second throughholes 157 may be coupled to each other through thermal fusion or bymeans of an adhesive such as epoxy. In order to secure the plurality offirst to fourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4, asufficient number of first upper support protrusions 143 may beprovided. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the first to fourthupper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4 and the housing 140from being unreliably coupled to each other.

The distance between the plurality of first upper support protrusions143 may be appropriately set such that the first upper supportprotrusions 143 do not interfere with peripheral components.Specifically, the first upper support protrusions 143 may be disposed atthe corners of the housing 140 at regular intervals so as to besymmetrical with respect to the center of the bobbin 110, or may bedisposed at irregular intervals so as to be symmetrical with respect toa specific imaginary line extending through the center of the bobbin110.

After the first inner frame 151 is coupled to the bobbin 110 and thefirst of first outer frames 152 a and 152 b are coupled to the housing140, conductive connecting members CP11, CP12, CP13, and CP14, made forexample of solder, may be provided between the elastic member contacts184-1, 84-2, 184-3, and 184-4 of the sensor substrate 180 and the firstinner frame 151, as shown in FIG. 10, so as to enable power havingdifferent polarities to be applied to two pins P11 and P12, among thefour pins P11, P12, P13 and P14 of the first sensor 170, and to enabledifferent feedback signals to be output from two other pins P21 and P22.In order to enable the application of power having different polaritiesand the output of the feedback signals having different polarities inthis way, the upper elastic member 150 may be divided into the first tofourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4.

The first to fourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4are connected to the circuit board 250 via the support members 220.Specifically, the first upper elastic member 150-1 may be connected tothe circuit board 250 via at least one of the first of first supportmember 220-1 a or the second of first support member 220-1 b, and thesecond upper elastic member 150-2 may be connected to the circuit board250 via the second support member 220-2. Furthermore, the third upperelastic member 150-3 may be connected to the circuit board 250 via atleast one of the first of third support member 220-3 a or the second ofthird support member 220-3 b, and the fourth upper elastic member 150-4may be connected to the circuit board 250 via the fourth support member220-4. Accordingly, the first sensor 170 may receive power supplied fromthe circuit board 250 through the support members 220 and the upperelastic member 150, or may output feedback signals and provide thefeedback signals to the circuit board 250.

The lower elastic member 160 may include a first lower elastic member160-1 and a second lower elastic member 160-2, which are conductivelyisolated from each other. The first coil 120 may be connected to theplurality of support members 220 through the first and second lowerelastic members 160-1 and 160-2.

Each of the first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 mayinclude at least one of the second inner frame 161-1 or 161-2, at leastone of the second outer frame 162-1 or 162-2, and at least one of thesecond frame connectors 163-1, 163-2, 163-3, or 163-4.

The second inner frames 161-1 and 161-2 may be coupled to the bobbin110, and the second outer frames 162-1 and 162-2 may be coupled to thehousing 140. The first of second frame connector 163-1 may connect thesecond inner frame 161-1 and the second outer frame 162-1, the second ofsecond frame connector 163-2 may connect two second outer frames 162-1and 162-2, and the third of second frame connector 163-3 may connect thesecond inner frame 161-2 and the second outer frame 162-2.

The first lower elastic member 160-1 may further include a first coilframe 164-1, and the second lower elastic member 160-2 may furtherinclude a second coil frame 164-2. Referring to FIG. 11, the first andsecond coil frames 164-1 and 164-2 may be electrically connected to bothending lines of the first coil 120 through conductive connectingmembers, such as solder, at positions on the upper surface thereof whichare disposed near the pair of winding protrusions 119, around which thetwo ending lines of the first coil 120 are wound, whereby the first andsecond lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 may receive power havingdifferent polarities and may transmit the power to the first coil 120.In order to enable the application of power having different polaritiesand transmission of the power to the first coil 120 in this way, thelower elastic member 160 may be divided into the first and second lowerelastic members 160-1 and 160-2.

Each of the first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 mayfurther include a fourth of second frame connector 163-4. The fourth ofsecond frame connector 163-4 may connect the first and second coilframes 164-1 and 164-2 and the second inner frame 161-2.

At least one of the first of second through fourth of second frameconnectors 163-1, 163-2, 163-3, or 163-4 may be bent at least one timeto define a predetermined pattern. Particularly, the upward and/ordownward movement of the bobbin 110 in the first direction, parallel tothe optical axis, may be flexibly supported by positional change andfine deformation of the first of second frame connector 163-1 and thethird of second frame connector 163-3.

According to one embodiment, each of the first and second lower elasticmembers 160-1 and 160-2 may further include a bent portion 165. The bentportion 165 is bent toward the upper elastic member 150 in the firstdirection from the second of second frame connector 163-2. The upperelastic member 150 may further include fifth and sixth upper elasticmembers 150-5 and 150-6, which are conductively isolated from eachother. Each of the fifth and sixth upper elastic members 150-5 and 150-6may further include a connecting frame 154 and a second of first outerframe 155. The connecting frame 154 may be connected to the bent portion165, and may extend in the first direction. The second of first outerframe 155 may be bent at the connecting frame 154 in a directionperpendicular to the first direction, may be coupled to the housing 140,and may be connected to the support member 220. In other words, thefifth upper elastic member 150-5 may be connected to a fifth supportmember 220-5, and the sixth upper elastic member 150-6 may be connectedto a sixth support member 220-6. Here, the respective bent portions 165of the first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 and theconnecting frame 154 and the second of first outer frame 155 of thefifth and sixth upper elastic members 150-5 and 150-6 may be integrallyformed. In this way, each of the first and second lower elastic members160-1 and 160-2 and each of the fifth and sixth upper elastic members150-5 and 150-6 may have the portions 165 and 154, which are bent in thefirst direction.

According to another embodiment, the connecting frame 154 of each of thefifth and sixth upper elastic members 150-5 and 150-6 may be bent at thesecond of first outer frame 155 and may extend from the second of firstouter frame 155 to the second of second frame connector 163-2 in thefirst direction, unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12. In thiscase, the bent portions 165 of the first and second lower elasticmembers 160-1 and 160-2, which are illustrated in FIG. 12, may beomitted. In this way, each of the first and second lower elastic members160-1 and 160-2 may not include the bent portion, which is bent in thefirst direction, and each of the fifth and sixth upper elastic members150-5 and 150-6 may include the bent portion 154, which is bent in thefirst direction.

According to a still further embodiment, the bent portion 165 of each ofthe first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 may be bentin the first direction at the second of second frame connector 163-2 andmay extend from the second of second frame connector 163-2 to the secondof first outer frame 155, unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12.In this case, the bent portion 154 of each of the fifth and sixth upperelastic members 150-5 and 150-6 shown in FIG. 12 may be omitted. Thus,even though each of the first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and160-2 does include the bent portion 165, which is bent in the firstdirection, each of the fifth and sixth upper elastic members 150-5 and150-6 may not include the bent portion, which is bent in the firstdirection.

According to still another embodiment, the housing 140 may further beprovided with an insert or a metal attachment (not shown), unlike theembodiment shown in FIG. 12. In this case, the second of first outerframe 155 and the second of second frame connector 163-2 may beconnected to each other via the metal attachment. In this case, the bentportion 155 and the connecting frame 154, which are shown in FIG. 12,may be omitted. In this way, each of the first and second lower elasticmembers 160-1 and 160-2 and each of the fifth and sixth upper elasticmembers 150-5 and 150-6 may not include the bent portion, which is bentin the first direction.

As described above, at least one of the upper elastic members or thelower elastic members may include the bent portion, which is bent in thefirst direction, and any of the upper elastic members and the lowerelastic members may not include the bent portion, which is bent in thefirst direction.

The second of first outer frame 155 may further include the second ofsecond through hole 157, like the first of first outer frame 152 b.

According to one embodiment, the first of first outer frames 152 a and152 b of the first to sixth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3,150-4, 150-5, and 150-6 may be disposed to face each other in a diagonaldirection, and the second of first outer frames 155 may be disposed toface each other in a diagonal direction. Specifically, the first offirst outer frame 152 a of the first upper elastic member 150-1 and thefirst of first outer frame 152 a of the third upper elastic member 150-3may be disposed to face each other in a diagonal direction. Furthermore,the first of first outer frame 152 b of the second upper elastic member150-2 and the first of first outer frame 152 b of the fourth upperelastic member 150-4 may be disposed to face each other in a diagonaldirection. In addition, the second of first outer frame 155 of the fifthupper elastic member 150-5 and the second of first outer frame 155 ofthe sixth upper elastic member 150-6 may be disposed to face each otherin a diagonal direction.

Alternatively, according to another embodiment, although not shown inthe drawings, the first of first outer frames 152 a and 152 b of thefirst to sixth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, 150-4, 150-5,and 150-6 may be disposed at arbitrary two of the four cornersillustrated in FIG. 12, rather than being disposed to face each other ina diagonal direction, and the second of first outer frames 155 may bedisposed at the remaining two of the four corners, rather than beingdisposed to face each other in a diagonal direction.

It will be appreciated that the first and second lower elastic members160-1 and 160-2 receive power from the circuit board 250 through thefifth and sixth upper elastic members 150-5 and 150-6, which areconnected to the plurality of support members 220, and that they providethe power to the first coil 120. Specifically, the first lower elasticmember 160-1 may be connected to the circuit board 250 through the sixthupper elastic member 150-6 and the sixth support member 220-6, and thesecond lower elastic member 160-2 may be connected to the circuit board250 through the fifth upper elastic member 150-5 and the fifth supportmember 220-5.

Referring to FIG. 11, the lower surface of the bobbin 110 may beprovided with a plurality of first lower support protrusions 117 so asto couple and secure the second inner frames 161-1 and 161-2 of thelower elastic member 160 and the bobbin 110 to each other. The lowersurface of the housing 140 may be provided with a plurality of secondlower support protrusions 145 so as to couple and secure the secondouter frames 162-1 and 162-2 of the lower elastic member 160 and thehousing 140 to each other.

The number of second lower support protrusions 145 may be greater thanthe number of first lower support protrusions 117. This is because thesecond frame connector 163-2 of the lower elastic member 160 is longerthan the first frame connector 163-1.

As described above, since the lower elastic member 160 is divided intotwo lower elastic members, the first and second lower supportprotrusions 117 and 145 are provided in a sufficient number, as thenumber of first upper support protrusions 143, whereby it is possible toprevent a gap that would otherwise be created when the lower elasticmember 160 is separated.

In the case where the lower elastic member 160 is constituted not bydivided segments but by a single body, there is no necessity to providea large number of first and second lower support protrusions 117 and 145as much as the number of first upper support protrusions 143. This isbecause the lower elastic member 160 can be reliably coupled to thehousing 140 by only a small number of first and second lower supportprotrusions 117 and 145.

However, when the lower elastic member 160 is divided into the first andsecond lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2, which are conductivelyisolated from each other, as in the embodiment, a number of first andsecond lower support protrusions 117 and 145 sufficient to hold thedivided first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 may beprovided. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the first and secondlower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 and the housing 140 from beingincompletely coupled to each other.

Still referring to FIG. 11, the first and second lower supportprotrusions 117 and 145 may have a hemispherical shape, like the firstupper support protrusions 143, or may have a circular cylindrical shapeor a rectangular column shape. However, the embodiments are not limitedas to the shape of the first and second lower support protrusions 117and 145.

Referring to FIG. 12, according to the embodiment, the second innerframes 161-1 and 161-2 of the first and second lower elastic members160-1 and 160-2 may be provided with third through holes 161 a, whichare formed at positions corresponding to the first lower supportprotrusions 117 and have a shape corresponding to that of the firstlower support protrusions 117. The first lower support protrusions 117and the third through holes 161 a may be coupled to each other throughthermal fusion or by means of an adhesive such as epoxy.

Furthermore, the second outer frames 162-1 and 162-2 of each of thefirst and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 may be providedwith fourth through holes 162 a, which are formed at positionscorresponding to the second lower support protrusions 145. The secondlower support protrusions 145 and the fourth through holes 162 a may becoupled to each other through thermal fusion or by means of an adhesivesuch as epoxy.

The distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of first lowersupport protrusions 117 and 145 may be appropriately set such that thefirst lower support protrusions do not interfere with peripheralcomponents. Specifically, the first and second lower support protrusions117 and 145 may be disposed at regular intervals so as to be symmetricalwith respect to the center point of the bobbin 110.

Although each of the upper elastic member 150 and the lower elasticmember 160 may be embodied as leaf springs, the embodiments are notlimited as to the material of the upper and lower elastic members 150and 160.

The bobbin 110, the housing 140 and the upper and lower elastic members150 and 160 may be assembled to each other through thermal fusion and/ora bonding procedure using an adhesive. Here, the assembly may beperformed in such a manner as to perform thermal fusion and then abonding procedure using an adhesive, depending on the assembly sequence.

For example, when the bobbin 110 and the second inner frames 161-1 and161-2 of the lower elastic member 160 are firstly assembled to eachother in the first assembly and then the housing 140 and the secondouter frames 162-1 and 162-2 of the lower elastic member 160 aresecondly assembled to each other in the second assembly, the first lowersupport protrusions 117 of the bobbin 110 may be coupled to the thirdthrough holes 161 a, and the second lower support protrusions 145 of thehousing 140 may be coupled to the fourth through holes 162 a throughthermal fusion. When the first inner frame 151 of the upper elasticmember 150 is first assembled in the third assembly, the elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3, and 184-4 of the sensor substrate 180 andthe first inner frames 151 of each of the first to fourth upper elasticmembers 150-1, 150-2, 150-3, and 150-4 may be coupled to each otherthrough thermal fusion. Thereafter, when the housing 140 and the firstof first and second of first outer frames 152 a, 152 b and 155 of theupper elastic member 150 are coupled to each other in the fourthassembly, the second of second through holes 157 may be bonded to thefirst upper support protrusions 143 of the housing 140 through theapplication of an adhesive such as epoxy. However, the assembly sequencemay be changed. In other words, the first to third assemblies may beperformed through thermal fusion, and the fourth assembly may beperformed through bonding. Although thermal fusion may entaildeformation, i.e. warping, the bonding in the fourth assembly maycompensate for such deformation.

In the above embodiment, power may be supplied to the first sensor 170through two of the four upper elastic members 150, which areconductively isolated from each other, a feedback signal output from thefirst sensor 170 may be transmitted to the circuit board 250 through theremaining other two upper elastic members 150, which are conductivelyisolated from each other, and power may be supplied to the first coil120 through the two lower elastic members 160, which are conductivelyisolated from each other. However, the embodiments are not limitedthereto.

According to another embodiment, the role of the plurality of upperelastic members 150 and that of the plurality of lower elastic members160 may be swapped. Specifically, power may be supplied to the firstcoil 120 through two of the four upper elastic members 150, which areconductively isolated from each other, power may be supplied to thefirst sensor 170 through two of the four lower elastic members 160,which are conductively isolated from each other, and a feedback signaloutput from the first sensor 170 may be transmitted to the circuit board250 through the remaining other two lower elastic members 160, which areconductively isolated from each other. Although not illustrated, thiswill be readily understood from the preceding drawings.

Hereinafter, the upper and lower elastic members 150 and 160 will bebriefly described when the role of the upper elastic members 150 and therole of the lower elastic member 160 are exchanged with each other. Inthis case, the lower elastic members may be divided in the same fashionas the upper elastic members 150 illustrated in FIG. 10, and the upperelastic members may be divided in the same fashion as the lower elasticmembers 160 illustrated in FIG. 11. The sensor substrate 180 may becoupled to the bobbin 110, and the elastic member contacts of the sensorsubstrate 180 may protrude so as to face the lower elastic members 160rather than to face the upper elastic members 150, and may be coupled tothe corresponding lower elastic members 160.

The lower elastic members may include at least four lower elasticmembers, that is, first to fourth lower elastic members, which areseparated from each other, and the first sensor 170 may be connected tothe plurality of support members 220 via the first to fourth lowerelastic members.

Each of the first to fourth lower elastic members may include the firstinner frame coupled to the bobbin 110, the first of first outer framecoupled to the housing 140 and connected to the support member 220, andthe first frame connector, connecting the first inner frame to the firstof first outer frame.

The upper elastic member may include at least two upper elastic members,that is, the first and second upper elastic members, which are separatedfrom each other, and the first coil 120 may be connected to theplurality of support members 220 via the first and second upper elasticmembers.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may include at leastone second inner frame coupled to the bobbin 110, at least one secondouter frame coupled to the housing 140, and the first of second frameconnector, which connects at least one second inner frame to at leastone second outer frame.

At least one second outer frame may include a plurality of second outerframes, and each of the first and second upper elastic members mayfurther include the second of second frame connector, which connects theplurality of second outer frames to each other.

The at least four lower elastic members may further include the fifthand sixth lower elastic members, which are separated from each other,and each of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members may include thesecond of first outer frame, which is formed in a directionperpendicular to the first direction and which is coupled to the housing140 and connected to the support member 220.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may further include abent portion, which is bent at the second of second frame connectortoward the lower elastic member in the first direction. Each of thefifth and sixth lower elastic members may further include a connectingframe connecting the bent portion to the second of first outer frame.

Alternatively, each of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members mayfurther include a connecting frame, which is bent at the second of firstouter frame and extends to the second of second frame connector in thefirst direction. Here, the bent portion, the connecting frame, and thesecond of first outer frame may be integrally formed with each other.

Alternatively, each of the first and second upper elastic members mayfurther include a bent portion, which is bent at the second of secondframe connector and extends to the second of first outer frame in thefirst direction.

Alternatively, the lens driving apparatus may further include an insertor a metal attachment in the housing 140, and the second of first outerframe and the third of second frame connector may be connected to eachother via the metal attachment.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may further include acoil frame connected to the corresponding one of two ends of the firstcoil 120, and a third of second frame connector connecting the coilframe to at least one second inner frame.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11, the side surface of the housing140 may be provided with a plurality of third stoppers 149. The thirdstoppers 149 intended to prevent the body of the housing 140 fromcolliding with the cover member 300 when the first lens driving unitmoves in the second and/or third directions may prevent the side surfaceof the housing 140 from directly colliding with the inner surface of thecover member 300 upon the application of external impact. As shown inthe drawings, although the third stoppers 149 are disposed two on eachouter surface of the housing 140 with a constant interval therebetween,the embodiments are not limited as to the positions or number of thethird stoppers 149.

Although not shown in the drawings, the housing 140 may further beprovided at the lower surface thereof with fourth stoppers. The fourthstoppers may project from the lower surface of the housing 140. Thefourth stoppers may serve to prevent the lower surface of the housing140 from colliding with the base 210 and/or the circuit board 250, whichwill be described later. In addition, the fourth stoppers may bemaintained in the state of being spaced apart from the base 210 and/orthe circuit board 250 by a predetermined distance in the initialposition and are operating normally. By virtue of this construction, thehousing 140 may be spaced apart downward from the base 210 and may bespaced apart upward from the cover member 300, whereby the housing 140may be maintained at a constant level in the optical axis directionwithout interfering with other components. Accordingly, the housing 140may shift in the second and/or third directions, which are ananteroposterior direction and a right or left direction, in a planeperpendicular to the optical axis.

The first lens driving unit according to the embodiment may preciselycontrol the movement of the bobbin 110 by detecting the position of thebobbin 110 through the first sensor 170 in the optical axis direction,that is, the first direction in the z-axis, or a direction parallel tothe first direction. This may be achieved through feedback by providinginformation about the position, detected by the first sensor 170, to theoutside through the circuit board 250.

According to one embodiment, in order to move the bobbin 110 in theoptical axis direction, that is, the first direction or a directionparallel to the first direction, a magnet (hereinafter referred to asthe detecting magnet; not shown), which faces the first sensor 170, mayfurther be provided, in addition to the magnet 130 (hereinafter referredto as the autofocusing magnet) that faces the first coil 120. In thisembodiment, the interaction between the autofocusing magnet 130 and thefirst coil 120 may be obstructed by the detecting magnet. This isbecause a magnetic field may be generated by the detecting magnet.Accordingly, in order to prevent the detecting magnet, which isseparately provided, from interacting with the autofocusing magnet 130or in order to prevent the bobbin 110 from being tilted but to allow theinteraction between the detecting magnet and the autofocusing magnet130, the first sensor 170 may be disposed to face the detecting magnet.In this case, the first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mountedon the bobbin 110, and the detecting magnet may be disposed, coupled ormounted on the housing 140. Alternatively, the first sensor 170 may bedisposed, coupled or mounted on the housing 140, and the detectingmagnet may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110.

According to another embodiment, in place of additional disposition ofthe detecting magnet, the autofocusing magnet may be used as thedetecting magnet in order to move the bobbin 110 in the optical axisdirection, that is, the first direction or a direction parallel to thefirst direction. For example, in order for the autofocusing magnet 130to also serve as the detecting magnet, the first sensor 170 may not bedisposed on the housing 140 but may be disposed, coupled or mounted onthe bobbin 110 so as to be moved with the bobbin 110. Accordingly, whenboth the autofocusing magnet and the detecting magnet are presenttogether, problems caused by the interaction between the two magnets maybe fundamentally solved. For example, it is not necessary to provide apiece of magnetic field compensating metal (not shown) for minimizingthe interaction between the autofocusing magnet and the detectingmagnet.

In some cases, the first lens driving unit may further include variousdevices for improving the autofocusing function of the first lensdriving unit, in addition to the first sensor 170. In this case, thepositions of the devices or the method or process of receiving powerthrough the circuit board 250 and supplying feedback signals to thecircuit board 250 may be identical to those of the first sensor 170.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the second lens driving unit, which serves asa handshake correction lens driving unit as aforementioned, may includethe first lens driving unit, the base 210, the plurality of supportmembers 220, the second coil 230, the second sensor 240, and the circuitboard 250.

Although the first lens driving unit may include the above-mentionedcomponents, the above-mentioned components may be replaced with anotheroptical system capable of fulfilling the autofocusing function.Specifically, the first lens driving unit may be constituted by anoptical module using a single lens moving actuator or a variablerefractive index actuator, in place of using an autofocusing actuatoremploying a voice coil motor. In other words, the first lens drivingunit may adopt any optical actuator as long as it is capable offulfilling an autofocusing function. However, there is a need to installthe magnet 130 at a position corresponding to the second coil 230, whichwill be described later.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the base 210, the second coil230 and the circuit board 250.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 13, the base 210 of the second lens driving unitmay have an approximately rectangular shape when viewed in a plan view.The base 210 may be provided with stepped portions 211, to which anadhesive is applied when adhesively securing the cover member 300 to thebase 210, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The stepped portion 211 may guidethe cover member 300, which is coupled to the upper side of the base210, and may enable the end of the cover member 300 to contact the base210 in a surface-contact manner. The stepped portions 211 and the end ofthe cover member 300 may be adhesively secured to each other and may besealed shut using an adhesive or the like.

The base 210 may be disposed so as to be spaced apart from the firstlens driving unit by a predetermined distance. The base 210 may beprovided with a supporting portion 255, which is positioned at theportion of the base 210 facing the portion of the circuit board 250 atwhich terminals 251 are formed and which has a size corresponding tothat portion of the circuit board 250. The supporting portion 255 may beconfigured to have a constant cross-sectional area from the outersurface of the base 210 without the stepped portion 211 so as to supporta terminal pad 253 having the terminals 251.

The base 210 may have second recesses 212 formed in the corners thereof.When the cover member 300 includes projections formed at the cornersthereof, the projections on the cover member 300 may be fitted into thesecond recesses 212 to be combined with the base 210.

The base 210 may be provided in the upper surface thereof with secondmounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2, in which the second sensors 240 aredisposed. According to the embodiment, two second mounting recesses215-1 and 215-2 are provided, and the second sensors 240 arerespectively disposed in the second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2,whereby the second sensors 240 are able to detect the extent by whichthe housing 140 moves in the second and/or third directions. To thisend, the two second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be disposedsuch that the angle defined by two imaginary lines connecting the twosecond mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 and the center of the base 210is 90°.

Each of the second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be provided onat least one surface thereof with an inclined surface tapered (notshown) so as to allow epoxy or the like for the assembly of the secondsensors 240 to be more easily injected through the inclined surface. Theadditional epoxy or the like may not be injected into the secondmounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2, or may be injected in order to securethe second sensors 240 in place. The second mounting recesses 215-1 and215-2 may be disposed at or near the center of the second coil 230. Thecenter of the second coil 230 and the center of the second sensor 240may coincide with each other. According to the embodiment, the secondmounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be formed at the sides of the base210.

The cover member 300 may be provided with a slot at a positioncorresponding to the stepped portion 211 of the base 210 so as to allowthe injection of an adhesive or the like through the slot. At thispoint, since the adhesive, which is injected through the slot, has a lowviscosity, the adhesive can easily infiltrate between the steppedportion 211 and the end surface of the cover member 300. The adhesive,which is applied to the slot, may fill the gap between the matingsurfaces of the cover member 300 and the base 210 through the slot, andthus the cover member 300 may be sealingly coupled to the base 210.

The base 210 may further be provided on the lower surface thereof with amounting seat (not shown), on which a filter is installed. The filtermay be an infrared screening filter. However, the embodiments are notlimited thereto, and the base 210 may be provided on the lower surfacethereof with an additional sensor holder on which a filter is disposed.As described later, the base 210 may be provided on the lower surfacethereof with a sensor substrate, on which an image sensor is mounted soas to constitute a camera module.

The plurality of support members 220 may be disposed at the second sideportions 142 of the housing 140. As described above, when the housing140 has, for example, a polygonal shape when viewed in a plan view, thehousing 140 may have a plurality of second side portions 142. If theinterior of the lower end of the housing 140 has an octagonal bottomview shape, the plurality of support members 220 may be disposed at foursecond side portions 142, among the eight side portions. For example,each of the four second side portions 142 may be provided with twosupport members 220, and a total of eight support members 220 may thusbe provided.

Alternatively, among the four second side portions 142 of the housing140, each of two second side portions 142 may be provided with only onesupport member 220, and each of the remaining other two second sideportions 142 may be provided with two support members 220, with theresult that a total of six support members 220 may be provided.

As described above, the support members 220 may serve as the paths fortransmitting the power required for the first sensor 170 and the firstcoil 120 and the paths for providing the circuit board 250 with thefeedback signals output from the first sensor 170.

Furthermore, since the support members 220 serve to return the housing140 to its initial position after the housing 140 has moved in thesecond and/or third directions in the first lens driving unit, when thesame number of support members 220 are disposed in the diagonaldirection, the elastic coefficient may be balanced. Specifically, whenthe housing 140 moves in the second and/or third directions in the planeperpendicular to the optical axis direction, the support members 220 maybe finely and elastically deformed in the direction in which the housing140 moves or in the length direction of the support members 220. Here,the term “length direction” may refer to the direction connecting theupper end and the lower end of each wire of the support members 220.Accordingly, the housing 140 can move only in the second and/or thirddirections, which are substantially perpendicular to the optical axis,with almost no displacement in the first direction, which is parallel tothe optical axis, thus improving the accuracy of handshake correction.This may be obtained by the characteristic that the support members 220are capable of being stretched in the length direction.

As shown in FIG. 12, each of the four first to fourth support members220-1, 220-2, 220-3 and 220-4 includes a pair of support members and isindividually disposed at each of four second side portions 142 among theeight side portions of the housing 140 so as to support the housing 140in the state of being spaced apart from the base 210 by a predetermineddistance.

The first to fourth support members 220-1, 220-2, 220-3 and 220-4according to the embodiment may be respectively disposed at the secondside portions 142 of the housing 140 so as to be symmetrical with oneanother. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. In otherwords, the shape and number of the plurality of support members 220 maybe set to be symmetrical to one another in the second and thirddirections, which are perpendicular to the first direction. Inconsideration of the above-mentioned elastic coefficient, the number ofsupport members 220 may be eight as aforementioned.

Although the support members 220 have been described as being embodiedas suspension wires without a predetermined pattern in the aboveembodiment, the embodiments are not limited thereto. According toanother embodiment, the support members 200 may be embodied as platestype having elastic deformation portions (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 13, the second coil 230 may include fifth throughholes 230 a formed by passing-through the corner regions of a circuitmember 231. The support members 220 may extend through the fifth throughholes 230 a and may be connected to the circuit board 250.Alternatively, when the second coil 230 is an FP coil, an optical imagestabilizer (OIS) coil 232 may be formed or disposed on a partial regionof the FP coil. Furthermore, the support members 220 may be conductivelysoldered to the areas of the second coil 230 in which the fifth throughholes 230 a would otherwise be formed, without the formation of thefifth through holes 230 a.

The second coil 230 may be disposed to face the magnet 130 secured tothe housing 140. For example, the second coil 230 may be disposedoutside the magnet 130. Alternatively, the second coil 230 may bedisposed under the magnet 130 so as to be spaced apart from the magnet130 by a predetermined distance.

In the embodiment, although the second coil 230 may include a total offour second coils, which are disposed at the four sides of the circuitboard 250, as shown in FIG. 13, the embodiments are not limited thereto.Only two coils 230, namely, a second coil for the second direction and asecond coil for the third direction, may be provided, or four or moresecond coils 230 may alternatively be provided. According to theembodiment, a circuit pattern may be formed on the circuit board 250 soas to have the shape of the second coil 230, and an additional secondcoil 230 may be disposed on the circuit board 250. However, theembodiments are not limited thereto, and only the separate second coil230 may be disposed on the circuit board 250 without forming the circuitpattern having the shape of the second coil 230 on the circuit board250. Alternatively, the second coil 230, which is constituted by windinga wire into a doughnut shape or which is constituted by a FP (finepattern) coil, may be conductively connected to the circuit board 250.

The circuit member 231 including the second coil 230 may be mounted onthe circuit board 250 disposed over the base 210. However, theembodiments are not limited thereto, and the second coil 230 may beclosely disposed on the base, or may be spaced apart from the base 210by a predetermined distance. Furthermore, the second coil 230 may beformed on an additional substrate, and the substrate may be layered onthe circuit board 250 and may be connected thereto.

As described above, the housing 140 may be moved in the second and/orthird directions by the interaction of the magnets 130 and the secondcoil 230, which are disposed to face each other, thus implementinghandshake correction. To this end, the first to fourth support members220 may support the housing 140 relative to the base 210 such that thehousing 140 can move in the second and/or third directions, which areperpendicular to the first direction.

The second sensors 240 may detect displacement of the first lens drivingunit relative to the base 210 in the second and/or third directions,which are perpendicular to the optical axis. To this end, the secondsensors 240 may be disposed at the center of the second coil 230, withthe circuit board 250 disposed therebetween so as to detect movement ofthe housing 140. In other words, the second sensors 240 may not bedirectly connected to the second coil 230, and the circuit board 250 maybe provided on the upper surface thereof with the second coil 230 and onthe lower surface thereof with the second sensors 240. According to theembodiment, the second sensors 240, the second coil 230, and the magnet130 may be disposed on the same axis.

The second sensors 240 may be embodied as Hall sensors, but mayalternatively be embodied as any kind of sensor as long as it is capableof detecting variation in magnetic force. As shown in FIG. 13, twosecond sensors 240 may be disposed at the sides of the base 210 disposedunder the circuit board 250, and may be fitted in the second mountingrecesses 215-1 and 215-2 formed in the base 210.

The circuit board 250 may include sixth through holes 250 a 1 and 250 a2, through which the support members 220 may extend. The support members220 may extend through the sixth through holes 250 a 1 and 250 a 2 inthe circuit board 250 and may be conductively connected to theassociated circuit patterns, which may be disposed on the lower surfaceof the circuit board 250, via soldering.

The circuit board 250 may further include seventh through holes 250 b.The second upper support protrusions 217 of the base 210 and the sevenththrough holes 250 b may be coupled as shown in FIG. 12, and may besecured to each other through thermal fusion or by means of an adhesivesuch as epoxy.

The circuit board 250 may further include a plurality of terminals 251.The circuit board 250 may be provided with the bent terminal pad 253.Depending on the embodiment, the one bent terminal pad 253 of thecircuit board 250 may be provided with at least one terminal 251.

Depending on the embodiment, the plurality of terminals 251 provided onthe terminal pad 253 may receive external power, and may supply thepower to the first and second coils 120 and 130 and the first and secondsensors 170 and 240. Furthermore, the plurality of terminals 251 mayoutput the feedback signals, output from the first sensor 170, to theoutside. The number of terminals 251 provided on the terminal pad 252may be increased or decreased depending on the kinds of components to becontrolled.

According to the embodiment, although the circuit board 250 may beembodied as an FPCB, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Theterminals of the circuit board 250 may be directly formed on the surfaceof the base 210 through a process of forming a surface electrode.

As described above, the circuit board 250 may supply power (or current)required for the first coil 120 and the first sensor 170, and mayreceive the feedback signals from the first sensor 170 so as to adjustthe displacement of the bobbin 110.

The lens driving apparatus according to this embodiment may beincorporated in devices in various fields, for example, a camera module.For example, such a camera module may be applied to mobile devices suchas cellular phones (or mobile phones), and may further be applied tovarious multimedia fields including notebook personal computers, cameraphones, PDAs, smart phones and toys, and image input devices such asinformation terminals of monitoring cameras and video tape recorders.

The camera module according to this embodiment may include the lensbarrel coupled to the bobbin 110, an image sensor (not shown), a circuitboard 250, and an optical system.

The lens barrel may be constructed as described above, and the circuitboard 250 may constitute the bottom surface of the camera module,starting from the area on which the image sensor is mounted.

The optical system may include at least one lens for transmitting imagesto the image sensor. The optical system may be provided with an actuatormodule capable of fulfilling autofocusing and handshake correctionfunctions. The actuator module for fulfilling the autofocusing functionmay be constructed in various fashions, but mainly adopts a voice coilunit motor. The lens driving apparatus according to this embodiment mayserve as an actuator module for fulfilling both autofocusing andhandshake correction functions.

The camera module may further include an infrared ray (IR) screeningfilter (not shown). The infrared ray screening filter serves to shieldthe image sensor from light in the infrared range. In this case, thebase 210, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, may be provided with theinfrared ray screening filter at a position corresponding to the imagesensor, and the infrared ray screening filter may be coupled to a holdermember (not shown). Furthermore, the base 210 may support the lowerportion of the holder member.

The base 210 may be provided with an additional terminal member forconnection with the circuit board 250, and the terminal member may beintegrally formed using a surface electrode. The base 210 may serve as asensor holder for protecting the image sensor. In this case, althoughthe base 210 may be provided along the lateral side surface thereof withprotrusions projecting downward, these are not essential components.Although not shown in the drawings, an additional sensor holder disposedunder the base 210 may fulfill the function of the protrusions.

In the lens driving apparatus according to the embodiment, which isconstructed as described above, since the first and second lens drivingunits share the magnet 130, it is possible to implement autofocusing andhandshake correction functions using only the magnet 130.

In the lens driving apparatus 100 and the camera module including thelens driving apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, the first sensor170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the housing 140 or the bobbin110, and the autofocusing magnet 130 may also be used as the detectingmagnet or a detecting magnet may be additionally disposed. If theautofocusing magnet 130 is also used as the detecting magnet or thedetecting magnet is disposed so as not to interact with the autofocusingmagnet 130, the detecting magnet does not affect the autofocusing magnet130. Consequently, tilting of the bobbin 110 does not occur, and theaccuracy of a feedback signal is improved. Furthermore, the number ofparts is not increased, and the weight of the housing 140 is reduced,thereby improving responsiveness. Alternatively, the autofocusing magnetand the handshake correction magnet may also be separately provided.

Another Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a lens drivingapparatus 400 according to another embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspectiveview of a first elastic part 441 illustrated in FIG. 14 according to theembodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second elastic part 442illustrated in FIG. 14 according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, the lens driving apparatus 400 according tothe embodiment may include a mover 410, a stator 420, a first sensor430, and an elastic unit 440. The lens driving apparatus 400 accordingto the embodiment may further include a cover can 450 and a substrate(not shown).

The cover can 450 may accommodate the mover 410, the stator 420, thefirst sensor 430, and the elastic member (or the elastic unit) 440,which will be described later, and may be mounted on a base 423 so as todefine the appearance of the lens driving apparatus 400.

The cover can 450 may be mounted on the base 423 such that the innersurface of the cover can 450 is in close contact with the lateral sideportion of the base 423, which will be described later, protect theinternal components from external impacts, and prevent the infiltrationof external contaminants.

Furthermore, the cover can 450 must also fulfill a function ofprotecting the components of the camera module, which will be describedlater, from external radio wave interference generated by cellularphones or the like. Accordingly, the cover can 450 may be made of metal.

The cover can 450 may be constituted by a housing 422 itself, which willbe described later, or the housing 422 may be molded on the innersurface of the cover can 450. In this embodiment, the cover can 450 maybe provided in the upper wall thereof with an opening through which alens unit (not shown) is exposed.

The mover 410 may include the lens unit (not shown) and a bobbin 411,and may further include a coil 412.

The lens unit (not shown) may be a lens barrel, but the embodiment isnot limited to that. The lens unit may be constituted by any structureas long as it is a holder structure capable of supporting the lens. Inthis embodiment, the case in which the lens unit is a lens barrel willbe described. The lens unit may be mounted on the base 423, which willbe described later, and may be disposed at a position corresponding toan image sensor. The lens unit may include one or more lenses (notshown).

The bobbin 411 may be coupled to the lens unit so as to hold the lensunit. The manner in which the lens unit is coupled to the bobbin 411 maybe identical to that in which the lens barrel is coupled to the bobbin110, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

The bobbin 411 may be provided in the outer circumferential surfacethereof with a guide 411 a for guiding the coil 412, which is wound ormounted thereon. The guide 411 a may be integrally formed with the outerside surface of the bobbin 411, and may be consecutively formed alongthe outer surface of the bobbin 411, or may be formed on the outersurface of the bobbin 411 at regular intervals.

At least one of the upper or lower surface of the bobbin 411 may beprovided with a coupling protrusion to which at least one of a firstelastic part 441 or a second elastic part 442 is coupled so as tosupport the bobbin 411 on the base 423, which will be described later.

The coil 412 may be wound around the outer surface of the bobbin 411while being guided by the guide 411 a, or may be previously wound inadvance and then mounted on the guide 411 a. Alternatively, fourseparate coils may be disposed on the outer surface of the bobbin 411 atan interval of 90°. Power is applied to the first elastic part 441 fromthe substrate, which will be described later, and the coil 412 mayreceive the power from the first elastic part 441 so as to create anelectromagnetic field. In other words, when power is applied to the coil412, a magnet unit 421 and the coil 412 may electromagnetically interactwith each other.

The stator 420 may support the mover 410, and may include the magnetunit 421, the housing 422, and the base 423.

The magnet unit 421 may be mounted on the housing 422 using an adhesiveor the like such that the magnet unit 421 is disposed at a positioncorresponding to the outer surface of the coil 412. The magnet unit 421may include a plurality of magnet units, which are internally mounted atfour corners of the housing 422 at regular intervals for efficientutilization of the internal space of the housing 422.

Alternatively, the magnet units 421 may be mounted on four inner sidesurfaces of the housing 422 so as to face the coil 412.

The magnet included in the magnet unit 421 may be configured to have apolygonal column form, such as a triangular column, a rectangular columnor a trapezoidal column, and the polygonal column may partially includea curved surface. Some of the corner edges of the magnet may bemanufactured so as to be curved.

The housing 422 may be configured so as to correspond to the innersurface of the cover can 450, which defines the appearance of the lensdriving apparatus 400. The housing 422 and the cover can 450 may not beseparately provided but may be integrally formed with each other so asto define the appearance of the lens driving apparatus 400.

In the embodiment, the housing 422 or the cover can 450 may be open atone of the upper or lower side thereof, and may be coupled at one endthereof to the elastic member 440 so as to support the mover 410. Thehousing 422 may include a magnet unit mounting hole or a magnet unitmounting recess, which is formed in the inner side surface or the cornerof the housing so as to have a shape corresponding to the magnet unit421. For example, the magnet unit mounting hole or the magnet unitmounting recess may have a shape similar to that of the magnet mountingportion 141 a illustrated in FIG. 7.

The housing 422 may be made of an insulating material, like theabove-described housing 140, and may be injection-molded inconsideration of productivity.

The housing 422 may be provided on the upper surface thereof with astopper 422 a, which protrudes a predetermined length. Consequently,when an external impact is applied to the housing 422, the stopper 422 ais able to absorb the impact by contacting the upper surface of thecover can 450. The stopper 422 a may be integrally formed with thehousing 422, and may also be provided on the bobbin 411.

The base 423 may be provided in the center thereof with a circularrecess 423 a, which is depressed downward so as to support at least oneof the mover 410 or the housing 422 and to cause the bobbin 411 to bespaced apart from the base 423. The recess 423 a may be provided at thecenter thereof with a restriction protrusion 423 b for restricting thedownward movement of the bobbin 411.

The base 423 may serve as a sensor holder for protecting an image sensor(not shown), which will be described later. Here, the base 423 may beprovided on the side surface thereof with a protrusion, which extendsdownward, so as to position an infrared ray (IR) screening filter (notshown) thereat.

In this case, the IR screening filter may be mounted in a through holeformed in the center of the base 423, and may include a blue filter. TheIR screening filter may be made of, for example, a film or glassmaterial, and an infrared ray screening coating material may be appliedto a flat plate-shaped optical filter such as a glass cover forprotecting an imaging area and the glass cover. In addition to the base423, an additional sensor holder may be disposed under the base 423.

The base 423 may be provided with one or more holding protrusions, whichprotrude from the upper corner of the base 423 so as to be in surfacecontact with or coupled to the inner surface of the cover can 450. Theholding protrusions serve to guide the cover can 450 so as to allow thecover can 450 to be easily coupled and serve to securely maintain thecover can 450 after coupling.

Specifically, the stator 420 according to the embodiment holds the mover410 positioned therein, and moves the lens unit so as to adjust thefocus of an image.

The first sensor 430 may serve not only to detect variation in amagnetic field of the magnet unit 421 so as to detect movement of themover 410 and but also to precisely control an actuator. For example,the first sensor 430 may play the same role as the first sensor 170illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment, the first sensor 430 may be provided on the outersurface of the bobbin 411 so as to detect variation in a magnetic fieldof the magnet unit 421 disposed on the housing 422, and may include oneor more first sensors. Accordingly, according to this embodiment, it ispossible to reduce the weight of the mover 410 and the power required todrive the lens unit and to reduce the volume of the lens drivingapparatus 400 by disposing the magnet unit 421 on the stator 420.

The first sensor 430 may be disposed in a recess formed in a portion ofthe outer surface of the bobbin 411. The coil 412 may be disposed on theouter surface of the bobbin 411, and the first sensor 430 may bedisposed in the coil 412. The first sensor 430 may be shielded by thecoil 412 so as not to be visible from the outside. Alternatively, thefirst sensor 430 may also be disposed outside the coil 412.

Although the first sensor 430 is illustrated in the drawing as havingfour terminals 431 to 434, the terminals of the first sensor 430 may bevaried depending on the kind of the first sensor 430. For example, thefour terminals 431 to 434 may be a positive (+) electrode, a negative(−) electrode, a ground, and an output terminal. Accordingly, the secondelastic part 442, which will be described later, may be constituted byat least two leaf springs so as to match the number of terminals of thefirst sensor 430.

Although the first sensor 430 may be disposed closer to the coil 412than the magnet unit 421, the influence of the coil 412 on the detectionof movement of the mover 410 may be disregarded, considering that theintensity of the magnetic field created in the magnet of the magnet unit421 is several hundred times the intensity of the electromagnetic fieldcreated in the coil.

The elastic member 440 may include the first elastic part 441 and thesecond elastic part 442.

The first elastic part 441 may be connected at respective ends thereofto first sides of the bobbin 411 and the stator 420 so as to allow powerto be applied to the coil 412 of the stator 420. The second elastic part442 may be connected at respective ends thereof to second sides of thebobbin 411 and the stator 420 so as to be conductively connected to thefirst sensor 430.

Here, although the first elastic part 441 and the second elastic part442 may be constituted by separate springs disposed on the respectivesides of the housing 422, it may be constituted by a leaf spring, whichis prepared by bending and cutting a plate, for efficiency ofproduction.

The first sides of the bobbin 411 and the stator 420, to which the firstelastic part 441 is connected, may be the upper sides or the lower sidesof the bobbin 411 and the stator 420. In the same way, the second sidesof the bobbin 411 and the stator 420, to which the second elastic part442 is connected, may be the lower sides or the upper sides of thebobbin 411 and the stator 420.

For example, the first elastic part 441 may be disposed at the upperside of the bobbin 411, and the second elastic part 442 may be disposedat the lower side of the bobbin 411. In this case, for example, thefirst elastic part 441 may be disposed similarly to the upper elasticmember 150, and the second elastic part 442 may be disposed similarly tothe lower elastic member 160.

Alternatively, the first elastic part 441 may be disposed at the lowerside of the bobbin 411, and the second elastic part 442 may be disposedat the upper side of the bobbin 411. In this case, for example, thefirst elastic part 441 may be disposed similarly to the lower elasticmember 160, and the second elastic part 442 may be disposed similarly tothe upper elastic member 150.

Since the first elastic part 441 is illustrated as being disposed at thelower side of the bobbin 411 and the second elastic part 442 isillustrated as being disposed at the upper side of the bobbin 411, thefollowing description will be made based on this arrangement.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, each of the first elastic part 441 and thesecond elastic part 442 may be configured to have an approximately ringshape. The inner circumference of each of the first elastic part 441 andthe second elastic part 442 may have an approximately circular shape soas to correspond to the mover 410, and the outer circumference thereofmay have an approximately rectangular shape so as to correspond to theshape of the housing 422 or the base 423.

In detail, each of the first elastic part 441 and the second elasticpart 442 may include outer portions 441 a and 442 a coupled to thestator 420, inner portions 441 b and 442 b having a coupling holecorresponding to the coupling protrusion of the bobbin 411 so as to becoupled to the bobbin 411, and connecting portions 441 c and 442 cconnecting the outer portions 441 a and 442 a to the inner portions 441b and 442 b and providing elastic force. As illustrated in the drawings,each of the connecting portions 441 c and 442 c may be constituted byone or more bent portions connecting the inner portion 441 b and 442 band the outer portions 441 a and 442 a and the one or more bent portionsmay be integrally formed with one another.

The outer portion 441 a of the first elastic part 441 may be disposedbetween the lower end of the housing 422 and the base 423 or on the base423, and the inner portion 441 b of the first elastic part 441 may becoupled to the lower surface of the bobbin 411 so as to support thebobbin 411 and to provide the bobbin 411 with restoring force.

The first elastic part 441 may include a first spring 441 aa and asecond spring 441 bb, which are spaced apart from each other. Power,which is applied from the substrate, which will be described later, maybe input to or output from the first spring 441 aa and the second 441bb.

The first spring 441 aa and the second spring 441 bb may be constitutedby leaf springs, which are configured to be symmetrical with each other.Although the first spring 441 aa and the second spring 441 bb maytogether be constituted by a single leaf spring, they are preferablyconstituted by separate respective leaf springs for the input and outputof power. The first spring 441 aa and the second spring 441 bb may besymmetrical with each other in the second direction (for example, thex-axis direction) or in the third direction (for example, the y-axisdirection), which is perpendicular to the first direction (for example,the z-axis direction) in which the mover 410 is moved.

The first spring 441 aa and the second spring 441 bb may be providedwith respective terminals 441 d, which are bent at the outer portions441 a and 442 a and are soldered to the substrate. For example, the coil412, which is wound around the bobbin 411, may be conductively connectedat both ends thereof to the inner portions 441 b of the first spring 441aa and the second spring 441 bb, and the terminals 441 d, which arerespectively formed at the first spring 441 aa and the second spring 441bb, may be secured to the side surface of the base 423 and may beconductively connected to the substrate, which will be described later.By virtue of this wiring structure, power may be supplied to the coil412.

Meanwhile, the second elastic part 442 may be constituted by at leasttwo leaf springs so as to match the number of terminals of the firstsensor 430. Since the first sensor 430 is provided with four terminals431, 432, 433 and 434 in this embodiment, the second elastic part 442may be divided into four segments, which are spaced apart from oneanother so as to be symmetrical with one another.

Specifically, separate leaf springs 442 aa, 442 bb, 442 cc and 442 dd ofthe second elastic part 442 may be constructed such that the respectiveinner portions 442 b thereof are conductively connected to the firstsensor 430 and the respective outer portions 442 a thereof areconductively connected to the substrate, which will be described later,via electric wires (not shown) or metal members (not shown) disposedoutside the housing 422 or surface metal layers formed on the housing422.

In this embodiment, the conductive connection of the respective elementsmay be implemented through soldering.

The lens driving apparatus 400 according to this embodiment may be usedin various fields, for example, in a camera module, like the lensdriving apparatus 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As in the camera module including the lens driving apparatus 100, acamera module in which the lens driving apparatus 400 according to theembodiment is incorporated may further include a printed circuit board,an image sensor and the like as well as the lens driving apparatusalthough not shown in the drawings.

The printed circuit board (not shown) may be provided on the center ofthe upper surface thereof with the image sensor (not shown) and variouselements (not shown) for driving the camera module. In order to applypower required to drive the lens driving apparatus 400 according to theembodiment, the printed circuit board may be conductively connected tothe coil 412 via the terminal 441 c or 441 d of the first elastic part441.

The image sensor (not shown) may be mounted on the center of the uppersurface of the printed circuit board so as to be positioned along theoptical axis direction with one or more lenses (not shown) accommodatedin the lens unit. The image sensor may convert an optical signal of anobject, which is introduced through the lenses, into an electricalsignal.

The description of the lens driving apparatus 100 according to oneembodiment may also be applied to the lens driving apparatus 400according to another embodiment as long as the description is notcontradictory to the description of the lens driving apparatus 400according to another embodiment. Furthermore, the description of thelens driving apparatus 400 according to another embodiment may also beapplied to the lens driving apparatus 100 according to the oneembodiment as long as the description is not contradictory to thedescription of the lens driving apparatus 100 according to the oneembodiment.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

Mode for Invention

The mode for the invention has been sufficiently described in the bestmode for carrying out the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The lens driving apparatus and camera module according to theembodiments may be applied to mobile devices such as cellular phones (ormobile phones), and may further be applied to various multimedia fieldsincluding notebook personal computers, camera phones, PDAs, smart phonesand toys, and image input devices such as information terminals ofmonitoring cameras and video tape recorders.

1. A lens driving apparatus, comprising: a housing; a bobbin disposed inthe housing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; a first magnetdisposed on the housing and facing the first coil; a circuit boardcomprising a second coil disposed below the first magnet and facing thefirst magnet; an upper elastic member disposed on an upper portion ofthe housing and an upper portion of the bobbin; a first sensor detectingdisplacement of the bobbin; a second magnet disposed to face the firstsensor; a second sensor detecting displacement of the housing; a basedisposed below the housing; and a plurality of support membersconnecting the upper elastic member and the circuit board, wherein theupper elastic member comprises six upper elastic members, wherein thefirst sensor is electrically connected to four of the six upper elasticmembers, wherein the first coil is electrically connected to two of thesix upper elastic members, wherein the first magnet includes fourmagnets, and wherein the housing includes: first side portions on whichthe four magnets are mounted, respectively; and second side portions onwhich the support members are disposed, the first side portionconnecting the second side portions to each other.
 2. The lens drivingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second magnets areformed separately from each other.
 3. The lens driving apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a lower elastic member disposedon a lower portion of the housing.
 4. The lens driving apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the lower elastic member comprises atleast two first and second lower elastic members, which are separatedfrom each other, and wherein the first coil is electrically connected tothe two of the plurality of support members via the first and secondlower elastic members.
 5. The lens driving apparatus according to claim1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the housing and the secondmagnet is disposed on the bobbin.
 6. The lens driving apparatusaccording to claim 5, further comprising a sensor substrate, wherein thefirst sensor is coupled to the sensor substrate and the sensor substrateis disposed on the bobbin.
 7. The lens driving apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the sensor substrate comprises: a body coupled with thefirst sensor; and four contact portions connecting between the four ofthe six upper elastic members and the first sensor.
 8. The lens drivingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second magnets areintegrally formed with each other.
 9. The lens driving apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the first sensor and the first magnet aredisposed to face each other such that a center horizontal line, whichextends through a center of the first sensor and is perpendicular to anoptical axis, is aligned with an upper end of the first magnet.
 10. Thelens driving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the bobbin isconfigured to move upward and downward along the optical axis directionwith respect to the center horizontal line.
 11. A camera modulecomprising: a lens driving apparatus according to claim 1; and an imagesensor.
 12. A lens driving apparatus, comprising: a housing; a bobbindisposed in the housing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; a firstmagnet disposed on the housing and facing the first coil; a circuitboard comprising a second coil disposed below the first magnet andfacing the first magnet; an upper elastic member disposed on an upperportion of the housing and an upper portion of the bobbin; a firstsensor detecting displacement of the bobbin; a second magnet disposed toface the first sensor; a second sensor detecting displacement of thehousing; a base disposed below the housing; and a plurality of supportmembers connecting the upper elastic member and the circuit board,wherein the housing comprises a first corner area including a firstcorner, wherein the upper elastic member comprises a first upper elasticmember and a second upper elastic member, wherein the plurality ofsupport members comprises a first wire and a second wire, wherein thefirst magnet includes four magnets, and wherein the housing includes:first side portions on which the four magnets are mounted, respectively;and second side portions on which the support members are disposed, thefirst side portion connecting the second side portions to each other.13. The lens driving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the upperelastic member further comprises third to sixth upper elastic members.14. The lens driving apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the firstcoil is electrically connected to any one of the first and second upperelastic members.
 15. The lens driving apparatus according to claim 14,wherein the first sensor is electrically connected to any one of thethird to sixth upper elastic members.
 16. A camera module comprising: alens driving apparatus according to claim 12; and an image sensor.
 17. Alens driving apparatus, comprising: a housing; a bobbin disposed in thehousing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; a first magnet disposed onthe housing and facing the first coil; a circuit board comprising asecond coil disposed below the first magnet and facing the first magnet;an upper elastic member disposed on an upper portion of the housing andan upper portion of bobbin; a first sensor detecting displacement of thebobbin; a second magnet disposed to face the first sensor; a secondsensor detecting displacement of the housing; a base disposed below thehousing; and a plurality of support members connecting the upper elasticmember and the circuit board, wherein the upper elastic member comprisesfirst to sixth upper elastic members, wherein the first sensor iselectrically connected to four of the plurality of support members viathe first to fourth upper elastic members, wherein the first coil iselectrically connected to two of the plurality of support members viathe fifth and sixth upper elastic members, wherein the first magnetincludes four magnets, and wherein the housing includes: first sideportions on which the four magnets are mounted, respectively; and secondside portions on which the support members are disposed, the first sideportion connecting the second side portions to each other.
 18. The lensdriving apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the housing comprises afirst corner area including a first corner, and wherein at least aportion of each of two of the first to sixth upper elastic members isdisposed in the first corner area.
 19. The lens driving apparatusaccording to claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a first corner areaincluding a first corner, a second corner area opposite to the firstcorner area, a third corner area disposed between the first corner areaand the second corner area and a fourth corner area opposite to thethird corner area, wherein the plurality of support members comprisesfirst to sixth support members, and wherein the first support member isdisposed in the first corner area, the second support member is disposedin the second corner area, the third and fourth support members aredisposed in the third corner area and the fifth and sixth supportmembers are disposed in the fourth corner area.
 20. A camera modulecomprising: a lens driving apparatus according to claim 17; and an imagesensor.